The short answer
27 inns in 19 towns publish that tattooed guests may use their shared bath on site. 17 say it on their own site; for 9 the rule is their operator's group-wide page; 1 come from a prefecture tourism database. Read the conditions: many keep a right to refuse or limit the size. 3 more stays fall under an operator policy that allows tattoos but have no shared bath on site; they are listed separately below.
- Shared OK 27
How to read a “yes”
A shared-bath yes can come with conditions. Those we found include a size limit (“one-point” or small tattoos only), a time slot, and a line saying staff may ask you to stop if other guests are uneasy. Some yeses are soft — a notice that tattooed guests are using the bath, or an answer that only asks for consideration. We list them all, with their own words.
5 inns here state the rule only on an English page (their Japanese pages are silent). If you will use the shared bath, keep the inn's page handy at check-in.
Stated on the inn's own site
| Stay | Status | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| SoraichiAkiu · Miyagi | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, guests with tattoos may also use the large shared bath. / However, out of consideration for other guests, we may ask you to refrain from using the large shared …Our note: Large/intimidating tattoos may be refused at staff discretion; private bath available. |
| FukuzumiroHakone · Kanagawa | Shared OK | We have no particular restrictions on tattoos.Our note: Family bath, no booking needed; tattoo 'no restrictions' applies house-wide. |
| Gora KadanHakone · Kanagawa | Shared OK | Can I use the large shared bath or pool if I have fashion tattoos or irezumi (traditional tattoos)? Small single fashion tattoos (up to about A4 size) may be used as they are. …Our note: Small one-point tattoos (up to about A4 size) are allowed in the large shared bath and pool as is. Larger ones are directed to the private open-air bath. |
| RyugudenHakone · Kanagawa | Shared OK | * Use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos may be partially restricted.The inn's wording changed after our 29 Sep 2026 survey; this page shows the newer wording.Our note: No longer refused just for having tattoos (Seibu Prince group change, 2026-07-01), but the inn's bath pages now say use "may be partly restricted" depending on the situation; … |
| Hakuba Onsen Ryokan Shirouma-soHakuba · Nagano | Shared OK | in our bath...in the nude!(Tattoo Friendly)Stated only on the inn's English page; its Japanese pages say nothing.Our note: The English hot-spring page shows "(Tattoo Friendly)". Not stated on the Japanese page. |
| K's House Ito OnsenIzu · Shizuoka | Shared OK | Yes, K's House Ito Onsen has no particular restrictions.Our note: English FAQ: 'Yes, we are tattoo friendly onsen hostel.' |
| Hotel KoryuKawaguchiko · Yamanashi | Shared OK | Can I use the large bathroom even if I have tattoos? Yes, you can.Stated only on the inn's English page; its Japanese pages say nothing.Our note: Allowed, but guests must follow Japanese bathing etiquette or may be asked to stop. |
| Kinosaki Onsen Hanakouji SaigetsuKinosaki · Hyogo | Shared OK | We are proud to be a Tattoo-Friendly establishment, so everyone can enjoy the hot spring culture without worry.Stated only on the inn's English page; its Japanese pages say nothing.Our note: The inn's English inbound page describes itself as a "Tattoo-Friendly establishment". Private hot-spring baths are stated to be tattoo-OK. … |
| Kinosaki Yumekoyado TenbouenKinosaki · Hyogo | Shared OK | At Tenboen, guests with tattoos may also bathe.Our note: Property-wide sentence in the onsen page intro (placed right under the private rose-bath blurb, above the list of all baths) / same sentence; … |
| YamamotoyaKinosaki · Hyogo | Shared OK | Guests with tattoos are allowed to use the baths at our hotel.Stated only on the inn's English page; its Japanese pages say nothing.Our note: Private open-air bath 'Senyu', 40 min / 1,100 yen, advance reservation. |
| Kinugawa Grand Hotel Yume no TokiKinugawa · Tochigi | Shared OK | We would appreciate your consideration for other guests. We recommend using the private bath.The wording is soft — not a clear yes or no.Our note: No ban: answer to "can I use the large bath with a tattoo?" only asks for consideration of other guests and recommends the private bath. Not an explicit yes. |
| Ryokan IchinoiKurokawa · Kumamoto | Shared OK | We do not restrict tattoos. |
| Nikko TokansoNikko · Tochigi | Shared OK | Guests with a tattoo or a single small tattoo on their body may use the large shared bath and open-air bath after 21:00.Our note: Only "one-point" (small) tattoos, and only after 21:00 in the shared bath/open-air bath; larger tattoos not addressed. |
| Shima Onsen Kashiwaya RyokanShima Onsen · Gunma | Shared OK | Since our Shima Onsen Kashiwaya Ryokan is a tattoo-friendly onsen ryokan , people with tattoos can bathe in all of the available onsens without hindrance.Stated only on the inn's English page; its Japanese pages say nothing.Our note: Allowed in all baths per the inn's own English article (dated 2025-09-21). The inn's English FAQ frames it via the 3 free private baths / in-room baths ("No problem. … |
| Ryokan AsunaroTakayama · Gifu | Shared OK | I have a tattoo on my body; can I use the large shared bath? Yes, you may use it. |
| Ryokan TanabeTakayama · Gifu | Shared OK | You may use it. For large tattoos or irezumi (traditional tattoos), we would appreciate your consideration, such as by bathing at a different time.Our note: Courtesy request to shift bathing time for large tattoos, not a condition. |
| Yukemuri-no-Yado BiwansoWakura · Ishikawa | Shared OK | Since immediately after the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and still now, we have been hosting people involved in recovery and reconstruction, and some guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos do use our …The wording is soft — not a clear yes or no.Our note: Not an explicit "OK": a notice that, because the inn is hosting recovery workers after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, people with tattoos are also using the large shared bath. |
Group-wide rules
For these stays the rule we cite is their operator's group-wide policy page, not a page written for the property. See hotel group policies for the full text and the policy page.
| Stay | Status | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Hoshino Resorts KAI AkiuAkiu · Miyagi | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos. …Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group page (linked from KAI Akiu onsen page): tattoos not restricted, but shared bath may be refused if staff judge other guests may feel fear. |
| Risonare Atami (Hoshino Resorts)Atami · Shizuoka | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. |
| Kai BeppuBeppu · Oita | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. |
| KAI SengokuharaHakone · Kanagawa | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. |
| HOSHINOYA KaruizawaKaruizawa · Nagano | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. … |
| Hoshino Resorts KAI KinugawaKinugawa · Tochigi | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. |
| Hoshino Resorts KAI TamatsukuriTamatsukuri · Shimane | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. |
| HOSHINOYA TokyoTokyo · Tokyo | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. |
| Hoshino Resorts Kai UnzenUnzen · Nagasaki | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide rule (the property onsen page links to the group FAQ; no property-specific exception found). Staff may refuse the large bath if they judge other guests could feel afraid. |
From a tourism database
| Stay | Status | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Chikugogawa Onsen KiyonoyaFukuoka · Fukuoka | Shared OK | Tattoo acceptance / PermittedPrefecture / tourism-bureau databaseOur note: From Fukuoka Prefecture's tourism database (Crossroad Fukuoka), “tattoo acceptance” entry. The entry is for the whole facility. The same database lists a private bath and rooms with an open-air bath. |
Operator policy recorded, but no on-site shared bath
The operator's policy allows tattoos, but these properties have no shared (hot-spring) bath on site, so there is no shared bath for the rule to open. They are not counted above.
| Stay | Status | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| BEB5 Karuizawa by Hoshino ResortsKaruizawa · Nagano | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos. …The group rule applies, but this property has no hot-spring bath of its own.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide FAQ: no restriction, but the hot spring / large shared bath may be refused if staff judge that other guests would feel fear. … |
| Karuizawa Hotel Bleston CourtKaruizawa · Nagano | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos. …The group rule applies, but this property has no hot-spring bath of its own.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide FAQ (same text as BEB5). No large shared bath in the building. |
| HOSHINOYA FujiKawaguchiko · Yamanashi | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos. …The group rule applies, but this property has no hot-spring bath of its own.Operator's group-wide ruleOur note: Hoshino Resorts group-wide FAQ (same text as BEB5). No hot-spring large shared bath in the building. |
If your inn is not here
Covered-tattoo rules open more shared baths: see the sticker rules. Otherwise, look for a private bath the inn confirms for tattooed guests — private baths — and confirm before booking.
Related guides
- Tattoo cover stickers40 inns we checked let tattooed guests into the shared bath if the tattoo is covered. 12 state a sticker size. Sizes, how many, price and who supplies them — inn by inn.
- Hotel group tattoo policiesFor 29 stays in our register, the tattoo rule we cite is a group-wide page published by their operator. 7 operators: what each rule says, the policy page, and which stays it covers.
- Can you go to an onsen with tattoos?85 of 631 Japanese inns we checked publish a rule that lets tattooed guests bathe; 69 publish a no-tattoo rule and 207 publish nothing. What the rules say and how to find a way in.
Onsen towns
Every status above comes from what the inn (or, where labelled, its operator or a prefecture database) publishes. We checked these sources by 12 Oct 2026. Rules change: staff on the day have the last word.
“Private bath likely” is our inference from a published listing of a private bath, not the inn's statement. “Says nothing” means we found no rule — it does not mean OK. English translations are ours. How we verify · About